Anti-recovery device disarming mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for disarming an anti-recovery device for a weapon by electrically and mechanically interrupting the firing system of the weapon. The mechanism includes a combination lock which extends and retracts a cam. A detonator is moved by the cam into and out of alignment in an explosive train as the lock is operated. Movement of the cam also closes or breaks a firing circuit which includes an anti-recovery triggering system. When the cam is retracted by unlocking the combination lock, the detonator is non-aligned in the explosive train, and the firing circuit is interrupted, rendering the anti-recovery triggering system ineffective.

United States Patent 1 91 Beach 1 Sept. 30, 1975 1 ANTI-RECOVERY DEVICEDISARMING 3.500.747 3/1970 Parker 102/701 MECHANISM S b Primary Erumineramuel Fein erg [75] Inventor. Eugene H. Beach, Silver Spring, Md. Exuminer c T Jordan [73] Assignee: The United States of America as Attorney. Agent. or FirmR. S. Sciascia; J. A. Cooke represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC. [57] ABSTRACT [77] Filed. Sept 3 1969 A mechanism for disarming an anti-recovery device for a weapon by electrically and mechanically inter- Appl. No.: 855,470

rupting the firing system of the weapon. The mechanism includes a combination lock which extends and retracts a cam. A detonator is moved by the cam into and'out of alignment in an explosive train as the lock is operated. Movement of the cam also closes or breaks a firing circuit which includes an anti-recovery triggering system. When the cam is retracted by unlocking the combination lock. the detonator is nonaligned in the explosive train, and the firing circuit is interrupted. rendering the anti-recovery triggering sys- 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures [52] US. Cl l02/70.2 R [51] Int. C1. F42C 11/00 [58] Field of Search 102/702, 76, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.900.906 8/1959 Olsen 102/702 X 3,276,368 10/1966 Tower et a1 i 102/16 tem ineffective 3.3111158 3/1967 Fohrmann et a1v 102/702 3.3-15 947 10/1967 Combouricux 102/76 ANTI-RECOVERY TRIGGERING SYSTEM UH Patsnt Sept. 30,1975

ZNVENTOR Eugmm H. Rama? M. N @E MW. 3 V\ mm M. .mw

ANTI-RECOVERY DEVICE DISARMING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to disarming mechanisms, and more particularly to a disarming mechanism for an anti-recovery device for a weapon.

It has often occurred that enemy forces gain possession of ordnance devices deployed against them which have failed to explode. For example, air dropped bombs may fail to detonate on impact, or naval mines may become dislodged from their moorings and drift ashore on enemy held territory. These weapons are subsequently located by enemy personnel who search out such ordnance devices either as a source of reuseable explosive materials or to determine their modes of operation.

In either event, recovery of intact ordnance weapons by enemy forces is extremely undesirable. To prevent it, a wide variety of anti-recovery devices have been de vised. For example, its has been suggested that bombs be equipped with detonating devices that are triggered if any attempt is made to disassemble them. In more sophisticated weapons, where the goal is to prevent the enemy from determining the technology of a firing sys tem, it has been proposed that a small charge be included in the instrument compartment of each weapon to demolish the components of the firing system upon any attempt to remove it.

Despite the advantages of inclusion of such antirecovery devices, ordnance designers have been reluctant to use them because of the hazard they pose to friendly forces. Consider, for example, the dilemma created by the return to base of an aircraft carrying an armed bomb which was not dropped because of a minor malfunction in the aircrafts dropping mechanism. If the bomb were equipped with an antirecovery device, to remove it from the aircraft would be an extremely hazardous operation.

One solution to this problem is to include a disarming device in the anti-recovery mechanism. However, it will be appreciated that the purpose of including the anti-recovery device would be defeated if it could be easily rendered ineffective by enemy forces. Thus, an anti-recovery disarming device must be sufficiently sophisticated to prevent enemy personnel from easily deciphering its method of operation, yet be readily operable by friendly forces without the need for cumbersome tools or other equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a disarming mechanism for use with a variety of anti-recovery devices.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an inexpensive, reliable disarming mechanism easily operated only by one possessing knowledge of its mode of operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an anti-recovery device disarming mechanism operable without using tools.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a disarming mechanism for both electrically and mechanically disarming an anti-recovery device of a weapon.

Briefly, these and other objects are attained by a mechanism having a cam operated by a combination lock which selectively moves a detonator in and out of alignment in an explosive train and selectively opens and closes a firing circuit coupled to an anti-recovery triggering system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of the anti-recovery device disarming mechanism of the instant invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the anti-recovery triggering system coupled to the disarming mechanism of the instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof the anti-recovery disarming mechanism of the instant invention is shown mounted in the casing of an ordnance device 10, such for example, as a bomb, missile, mine or the like.

The disarming device for a weapon 10 is enclosed in a protective casing 11 and includes a lock mechanism 12 to which a manually rotatable numbered wheel, or dial, 114 is coupled by means of a shaft 16. The lock mechanism 112 is securely mounted within ordnance device 10 to be unaccessable from the exterior thereof unless the ordnance device is completely disassembled, thereby preventing unauthorized disarming. Shaft 16 passes through an opening in the wall of ordnance device 10 to permit dial I4 to be mounted exteriorly of device 10. Lock mechanism 12, dial l4 and shaft 16 together form a combination lock, assembly which may be of conventional design. The lock is preferably of a rugged, reliable variety requiring at least a three digit combination to permit the operation thereof. It is also desirable that the lock include facilities allowing for periodical changing of the combination for added security.

A removable protective cover 18 is secured to the exterior of ordnance device 10 over the area occupied by dial 14. The protective cover is preferably waterproof and is fastened to the device 10 in a readily removable manner, such as by means ofa plurality of wing nuts 20. The protective cover must be removed to gain access to numbered wheel 14.

A cam 22 is slideably mounted in the rear of lock mechanism 12 and cooperates with the lock mechanism in a conventional manner. That is, the cam 22 is fully extended beyond the rear portion of mechanism 12 when the mechanism is in its locked condition, as shown in FIG. ll, and is withdrawn or retracted into the lock mechanism 12 when the mechanism is in its unlocked condition as shown in FIG. 2. Locking and unlocking of the mechanism is accomplished in the conventional manner by manual manipulation of dial 14 according to a preset combination thus eliminating the need for tools or keys which may be lost or misplaced.

A rectangular housing 24 having a pair of extended arm portions 26 is secured to lock mechanism 12 by a plurality of bolts 25. Housing 24, which may be of a generally square cross-section, encloses a rectangular space in which a detonator is slideably disposed. A

slot 28 is formed in one wall of housing 24 of a sufficient width to accommodate the entry of cam 22. Slot 28 permits one portion of cam 22 to enter the internal space of housing 24 while another portion of the cam protrudes through the slot into an area externally contiguous to housing 24.

A spring 32 is seated within housing 24 and biases detonator 30 against the portion of cam 22 which enters housing 24. Spring 32 thus forces detonator 30 to move in unison with cam 22 as the cam withdrawn or extended by the operation of the combination lock mechanism 12.

A booster charge 34 is disposed contiguous to one side of housing 24 and communicates with the interior of the housing through an aperture 35 formed in one wall thereof. When cam 22 is extended to the position shown in FIG. 1, aperture 35 permits direct communication between detonator 30 and booster charge 34, so that explosion of the detonator will fire the booster charge. Booster charge 34 may be confined to an instrumentation compartment for the purpose of destroying secret electronic components, or it may be positioned to fire the main charge of the associated ordnance device.

A conventional electroresponsive primer 36 is positioned in casing 11 contiguous to the opposite side of housing 24 near the position occupied by detonator 30 when cam 22 is in its extended position. An aperture 38, preferably aligned with aperture 35, is formed in the wall of housing 24 abutting primer 36 to permit direct communication between primer 36 and detonator 30.

In operation, spring 32 normally biases detonator 30 out of communication with primer 36 and booster 34 when the cam 22 is withdrawn by unlocking of mechanism l2. Locking of mechanism 12 extends cam 22, forcing detonator 30 into alignment with primer 36 and booster 34. In this position an explosive train is formed from primer 36 through aperture 38 to detonator 30 and through aperture 35 to booster 34.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 1, an igniting wire 40 is embedded in primer 36, and an arming contact 42 is mounted on one side of primer 36 and connected to igniting wire 40. A unidirectional power supply 44 is mounted within casing 11 to supply igniting current to primer 36. Power supply 44 may be a battery in the firing system of the associated ordnance device or a separate unit as shown.

A conductive leaf spring 46, having an electrical contact 48 at one end thereof is secured at its other end to power supply 44 for carrying current to primer 36. A cam following surface 50 is disposed on leaf spring 46 for pressingly engaging cam 22. Leaf spring 46 is bent into a shape that causes it to bias cam following surface 50 into engagement with cam 22 even when the latter is completely withdrawn. Thus. when cam 22 is withdrawn, leaf spring 46 causes contacts 42 and 48 to separate.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, primer 36 is electrically connected to an anti-recovery triggering system 52 through wire 40. A second wire 54 completes a circuit from anti-recovery triggering system 52 to power supply 44. The anti-recovery triggering system may be any one of a variety of electrical, mechanical or electromechanical devices which produce an electrical signal on the detection of unauthorized tampering with the associated ordnance weapon. An example of such an anti-recovery triggering system includes an annular contact 56 made of electrically conductive material mounted at the base of an exploder mechanism well 58 formed in the ordnance device 10. A cylindrical contact 60, also made of electrically conductive material, is slideably disposed in a small diameter bore 62 extending from the base of well 58. A coil spring 64 is seated in bore 62 to normally bias cylindrical contact into engagement with annular contact 56.

A firing mechanism 66, which may be an extremely sensitive magnetic influence detonator, for example, is inserted into well 58. A small cylindrical projection 68 is formed of the nonconductive material at the base of firing mechanism 66 to maintain contacts 56 and 60 separated when firing mechanism 66 is fully seated in well 58.

In operation, upon insertion of firing mechanism 66 into well 58, contacts 56 and 60 are separated. Contacts 42 and 48 are also separated since lock mechanism 12 is initially in its unlocked condition and cam 22 is retracted. The anti-recovery device is armed by locking mechanism 12 in the conventional manner, thereby extending cam 22 which closes contacts 42 and 48 and aligns primer 36, detonator 30 and booster 34. When so armed, any undesired removal of firing mechanism 66 from well 58 will result in withdrawal of projection 68 from bore 62, permitting contacts 56 and 60 to come into engagement. Upon engagement, contacts 56 and 60 complete a circuit path from power supply 44 to primer 36 thereby effecting detonation of the primer. Primer 36 triggers detonator 30 which in turn fires booster 34 causing complete destruction of ordnance device 10.

However, if it is desired to remove firing mechanism 66 without destroying or exploding ordnance device 10, as for maintenance or replacement purposes, destruction of the ordnance device is readily avoided by manipulating dial 14 according to the prescribed numerical combination to withdraw cam 22 whereupon contacts 42 and 48 are separated by the influence of spring 46 and detonator 30 is biased out of alignment with primer 36 and booster 34.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A disarming mechanism for an anti-recovery device for an ordnance device comprising:

a combination lock mechanism cam means coupled to said lock mechanism and actuated thereby from a first position to a second position;

an elongated housing secured to said lock mechanism and partially enclosing said cam means; detonator means slideably disposed within said housing;

biasing means mounted within said housing for urging said detonator means into engagement with said cam means for motion therewith; and explosive charge means mounted adjacent said housing, said explosive charge means being juxtaposed to said detonator means when said cam is in said second position and separated from said detonator means when said cam is in said first position.

2. A disarming mechanism for an anti-recovery device for an ordnance device as in claim 1 further comprising:

a firing circuit for said explosive charge means having first circuit switching means thereon;

said circuit switching means being in an uninterrupted condition when said cam is in said second position thereby rendering said explosive charge means ignitable and being in an interrupted condition when said cam is in said first position thereby rendering said explosive charge means nonignitable.

3. A disarming mechanism for an anti-recovery device for an ordnance device as in claim 2, further comprising a normally interrupted second circuit switching means in said firing circuit for effecting ignition of said explosive charge means when said cam means is in said first position and said second circuit means is rendered continuous in response to selective tampering with said ordnance device.

4. A disarming mechanism for connection to an antirecovery triggering system comprising:

An explosive train including a primer and a detonator, said detonator alternatively movable to an outof-line first position or to an in-line second position;

an electric circuit connected to said primer and energizable by the actuation of said anti-recovery triggering system, said circuit including a switch;

cam means normally in an extended configuration and urgingly contacting said movable detonator for retaining said detonator in said second position and maintaining said switch in a closed mode; and

combination lock means operably coupled to said extended cam means for retracting said cam means upon proper manipulation of said lock means by an operator thereby causing said detonator to move to said first position and causing said switch to attain an open mode.

=k l l 

1. A disarming mechanism for an anti-recovery device for an ordnance device comprising: a combination lock mechanism cam means coupled to said lock mechanism and actuated thereby from a first position to a second position; an elongated housing secured to said lock mechanism and partially enclosing said cam means; detonator means slideably disposed within said housing; biasing means mounted within said housing for urging said detonator means into engagement with said cam means for motion therewith; and explosive charge means mounted adjacent said housing, said explosive charge means being juxtaposed to said detonator means when said cam is in said second position and separated from said detonator means when said cam is in said first position.
 2. A disarming mechanism for an anti-recovery device for an ordnance device as in claim 1 further comprising: a firing circuit for said explosive charge means having first circuit switching means thereon; said circuit switching means being in an uninterrupted condition when said cam is in said second position thereby rendering said explosive charge means ignitable and being in an interrupted condition when said cam is in said first position thereby rendering said explosive charge means non-ignitable.
 3. A disarming mechanism for an anti-recovery device for an ordnance device as in claim 2, further comprising a normally interrupted second circuit switching means in said firing circuit for effecting ignition of said explosive charge means when said cam means is in said first position and said second circuit means is rendered continuous in response to selective tampering with said ordnance device.
 4. A disarming mechanism for connection to an anti-recovery triggering system comprising: An explosive train including a primer and a detonator, said detonator alternatively movable to an out-of-line first position or to an in-line second position; an electric circuit connected to said primer and energizable by the actuation of said anti-recovery triggering system, said circuit including a switch; cam means normally in an extended configuration and urgingly contacting said movable detonator for retaining said detonator in said second position and maintaining said switch in a closed mode; and combination lock means operably coupled to said extended cam means for retracting said cam means upon proper manipulation of said lock means by an operator thereby causing said detonator to move to saiD first position and causing said switch to attain an open mode. 